Deaft iron for railway oars



(No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 1.

W. OASE.

DRAFT IRON POR. RAILWAY GARS.

INVENTOR WITNESSE-S una 2 Sheets-Sheet 2.

Patented Nov. 10, 1896.

INVENTUR W. CASE.

DRAFT IRON PoR RAILWAY CARS.

(No Model.)

WITNESSES UNITED STATES PATENT OEEICE.r

VILLIAM CASE, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR TO TI-IE NATIONAL MALLEABLE CASTINGS COMPANY, OF CLEVELAND, OI-IIO.

DRAFT-IRON FOR RAI LWAY-CARS.

SPECIFICATION forming part 0f Letters Patent N O. 570,980, dated November l0, 1896.

Application filed April 23, 1896. Serial No. 588.726. (No model.)

To @ZZ whom t may concern.:

Be it known that LWILLIAM CASE, of Chcago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Draft-Irons for Railway-Cars, of which the following is a full, clear, and eX- act description.

Figure l -is a side elevation, partly in sec-- sity which has existed for first removing" the draw-bar from between the draft-irons and then taking out the draft-rigging appliances vertically. Such operation, which is slow and laborious, is rendered unnecessary in the use of the draft-irons constructed in accordance with my invention, since they make it possible to remove the draft-rigging springs laterally from between the draft-irons without removing the draw-bar itself or detaching the strap therefrom. The advantages of such improvement will be appreciated by those falniliar with railway practice, for draft-springs frequently break and the matter of their easy removal and replacement is of considerable importance.

My improved draft-riggin g comprises draftirons between which the springs and followers are set, one (or each) of the draft-irons having a lateral window, through which such springs, ttc., can be removed, and a cover by which they are normally held therein.

In the drawings, 2 2 represent the draftirons, which are applied to the draft-timbers of a railway-car and receive between them the draw-bar 3, draft-springs and followers 4, and strap 5, which extends from the tail of the draw-bar and incloses such springs and follower. The movable parts of the draftrigging, namely, the springs and followers, are supported on guide-strips 6 on the inner faces of the irons,and directly opposite thereto the draft-irons are formed with openings in their sides, through which the springs and followers may be removed laterally. Normally the window of each iron is covered by a cap-plate 7 ,which at one end lits in a groove 8 at the end of the window and at the other end isheld by bolts 9. The cap-plates close the windows and confine and guide the springs and followers laterally. They are preferably formed with openings l0 to permit the springs,

&c., to be seen through the sides.

If it is desired to remove thedraft-springs and followers, the workman, by any convenient means, supports the rear portion of the draw-bar and the strap, takes the cap-plate from one of the draft-irons, and removes the in the manner of attachment of the draftirons to the ends of the draft-timbers. Each iron has at its rear end a se'at for the drafttimber open at the top and at one side and having walls 11, through which the bolts pass. lf it is desired to remove the draft-iron, these bolts may be withdrawn and the draft-iron then dropped down from the timber without moving the latter.

My improved device is applicable to draftsprings and followers of many different types, and modifications in the construction of the draft-irons within the scope of the invention as stated in the claims may be made by those skilled in the art.

I claim- 1. The combination with a draft-riggin g for cars, comprising a spring and spring-followers, of draft irons set at the sides of the draft-rigging and fixed to the draft-timbers, said draft-irons being adapted to confine and guide the draft-rigging, and one of the draftirons having a window in its side from which the spring mechanism of the draft-rigging is removable.

, 2. A draftiron having a lateral -window through which the spring mechanism of a draft-rigging is removable, and a removable cover for said window.

3. A draft-iron having a lateral window through which the spring mechanism of a IOO draft-rigging is removable, and a removable In testimony whereof I have hereunto set Cover having an opening therein.v Y my hand.

4. The draft-ironshaving at its end a seat foi1 a draft-timber open at Iche top and at one side and having a'Wall at thebottom, and a VitneSSeS: wall at one side, adapted to it against the THOMAS WV. BAKEWELL, draft-timber and to ieeeive the bolts. CLAYTON MARK.

VILLIAM CASE. 

